Diocese of Kotayk
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Diocese of Kotayk Կոտայքի թեմ |
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| Location | |
| Country | Armenia |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Total |
(as of 2011) ~200,000 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian Rite |
| Established | 1996 |
| Cathedral | Kecharis Monastery, Tsaghkadzor |
| Current leadership | |
| Patriarch | Karekin II |
| Primate | Archbishop Arakel Karamyan |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Diocese of Kotayk (Armenian: Կոտայքի թեմ Kotayki t'em), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church covering the Kotayk Province of Armenia. The name is derived from the historic Kotayk canton of Ayrarat province of Armenia Major.
The diocese was officially founded on May 30, 1996, upon a kontakion issued by Catholicos Karekin I. The diocesan headquarters are located in the provincial capital Hrazdan, while the cathedral of the diocese is the Kecharis Monastery in the nearby town of Tsaghkadzor.
The Diocese of Kotayk is considered the successor of the historic Diocese of Bjni founded by Catholicos Peter I in 1031. Bjni was one of the largest dioceses of medieval Armenia. The bishop of Bjni was one of 4 bishops that possessed a special privilege in the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians, others being the bishops of Syunik, Haghpat and Artaz.
The Diocese of Bjni has been intact until the mid 18th century.
Here is the list of churches, monasteries and chapels functioning under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Kotayk, along with their location and year of consecration:
Surp Kiraki Church, Arzni, 6th century
Surp Sarkis Church, Bjni, 7th century
Surp Hovhannes Church, Alapars, 7th century
Surp Vartan Zoravar Church, Alapars, 901
Mashtots Hayrapet Church, Garni, 12th century
Holy Mother of God Church, Bjni, 1031
Holy Mother of God Church, Yeghvard, 1301
Kaptavank Church, Kaputan, 1349
Holy Mother of God CHurch, Garni, 17th century
Surp Stepanos Church, Abovyan, 1851
Surp Karapet Church, Akunk, 1855
Surp Hakob Church, Aramus, 1863
Holy Mother of God Church, Fantan, 19th century
Holy Mother of God Church, Solak, 19th century
Holy Mother of God Church, Meghradzor, 1881
Holy Mother of God Church, Hrazdan, 1883
Saint George's Church, Argel, 1890
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Wikipedia